Vinyl top retainer assembly

ABSTRACT

A fastener assembly for retaining a flexible sheet of vinyl or the like to a relatively rigid supporting surface such as the roof of an automobile, comprising an elongate strip of longitudinally curved resilient material having a plurality of spaced prongs or barbs along the convex surface thereof and a pair of studs upstanding from the support surface, with the strip having means adjacent opposite ends thereof for engaging the studs to tension the strip against the vinyl sheet.

United States Patent [1 1 Meyer 1 1 VINYL TOP RETAINER ASSEMBLY [75] Inventor: Engelbert A. Meyer, Union Lake,

Mich.

[73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass.

[22] Filed: July 10, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 270,093

[52] US. Cl. 24/73 HS, 52/718 [51] Int. Cl A441) 21/00, F16b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 52/717, 718; 24/67 R, 73 HS, 259 B; 16/417 [56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,208 1/1899 Walker 16/15 2,390,851 12/1945 Smart 16/10 2,487,571 11/1949 Maxwell 52/718 X 2,950,513 8/1960 Cochran 52/718 X 3,473,283 10/1969 Meyer 24/73 HS 1 Nov. 6, 1973 3,505,772 4/1970 Dc Claire et a1. 52/717 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 418,528 10/1934 Great Britain l 16/13 235,631 4/1945 Switzerland 24/259 B Primary ExaminerDonald A. Griffin AttorneyRalph M. Burton et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A fastener assembly for retaining a flexible sheet of vinyl or the like to a relatively rigid supporting surface such as the roof of an automobile, comprising an elongate strip of longitudinally curved resilient material having a plurality of spaced prongs or barbs along the convex surface thereof and a pair of studs upstanding from the support surface, with the strip having means adjacent opposite ends thereof for engaging the studs to tension the strip against the vinyl sheet.

4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures VINYL TOP RETAINER ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention lies generally in the field of fastener assemblies, and more particularly is directed to a fastener assembly for retaining a flexible sheet of material in position overlying a relatively rigid support surface. The invention has particular utility in the automotive field wherein a relatively thin sheet of vinyl is secured to the sheet metal roof of the vehicle. These so-called vinyl tops are adhesively secured to the sheet metal surface of the vehicle and as the vinyl sheet is stretched considerably during its application to provide a wrinkle-free surface, there is a tendency for the vinyl to shrink somewhat before the adhesive becomes completely cured. Also, during the application of the adhesive to the vinyl sheet and/or the sheet metal surface an insufficient quantity of adhesive is frequently applied along the marginal edges of the sheet, thereby permitting the vinyl to come loose from the roof along the edges of the sheet. The fastener assembly of the instant invention is applied along the marginal edges of the vinyl sheet to retain the sheet in predetermined position and prevent shrinkage thereof during drying of the adhesive.

Since the advent of the vinyl top in the automotive field some years ago, it has been common practice to adhesively secure the vinyl sheet to the sheet metal surface, and to cover the marginal edges of the vinyl sheet with molding strips, as for example the molding strips surrounding the windshield and backlight of the vehicle. In the case of the so-called Landau roof treatment, the vinyl sheet covers only the rear portion of the vehicle roof, and the molding strip is applied over the forward edge of the vinyl sheet, covering the edge of the vinyl. It has been found that frequently the vinyl sheet may shrink somewhat before the adhesive securing it to the roofis completely dry, thus exposing the raw edge of the vinyl, resulting in an unsightly appearance. In addition, if insufficient adhesive is applied to the extreme marginal edges of the sheet, it can curl away from the roof surface, subjecting the vinyl to tearing, as well as being unsightly. In order to prevent shrinkage of the vinyl and retain the marginal edge thereof in position underneath the molding strip or the like that is subsequently applied, the instant fastener assembly has been provided which positively retains the vinyl sheet and is hidden within the molding strip to provide a finished assembly.

SUMMARY A fastener assembly for securing a flexible sheet material to a relatively rigid support surface comprising at least one retaining means including an elongate strip of resilient material having a plurality of sharp-edged sheet-engaging portions overlying the flexible sheet and engaging the surface thereof, and a pair of studs upstanding from the support adjacent opposite ends of the strip and engaging the strip to tension it towards the panel surface to maintain the engagement of the sharp edge portions of the strip with the flexible sheet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the upper portion of an automobile showing a vinyl top overlying a portion of the vehicle roof, with a fastener assembly embodying the invention positioned along the marginal edge of the vinyl sheet to retain it in proper position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the vehicle roof and a marginal edge of the vinyl sheet showing the fastener assembly of the invention retaining the sheet to the roof surface; I

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 33 and 44 respectively of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a top elevational view of the fastener strip shown in the remaining Figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 there is shown in perspective the upper portion of an automobile 20 having a sheet metal roof 22 of the type commonly referred to as a Landau roof, the forward portion 24 of which is painted, and the rear portion 26 of which is coveredby a relatively thin, flexible sheet of vinyl material. As is common practice in the automotive industry, the vinyl sheet 26 is stretched over the sheet metal roof of the vehicle, and is adhesively secured thereto. In the application of the vinyl to the roof, one generally accepted method is to position the vinyl sheet in place on the roof, then to fold the sheet in half upon itself and apply adhesive to the thus exposed surface of the roof and one-half of the vinyl, then to fold the vinyl sheet back over the adhesive on the roof and stretch it over that half of the roofs surface, and thereafter perform the same steps on the other half of the vinyl sheet. The edges of the vinyl sheet are then trimmed, and molding strips such as shown at 28, 30, 32 and 34 in FIG. 1 are secured to the vehicle body overlying the exposed marginal edges of the vinyl sheet 26.

Frequently, because the vinyl sheet is stretched during its application to prevent unsightly wrinkles, the sheet will shrink from underneath the molding strips during drying of the adhesive, thereby resulting in an unsightly appearance. In order to obviate this problem, the fastener assembly to be described is provided and is positioned along the marginal edges of the vinyl strip and is thereafter covered by the molding. The following description will be specifically directed to the provision of the fastener assembly along the marginal edge of the vinyl sheet covered by the molding 34, although it is to be understood that the same structure could be utilized in the identical manner for securing the remaining edges of the vinyl, i.e. those underlying the molding strips 28, 30 and 32.

' Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown in section the sheet metal panel 24 forming the roof of the vehicle to which there is adhesively secured a thin flexible sheet of vinyl material 26. Upstanding from the surface of the panel 24 in spaced-apart relation there are a pair of T- shaped studs or buttons 36, each having a shank 38 secured as by welding to the panel, and an enlarged head portion 40 lying in spaced, generally parallel relation to the surface of the panel 24. The vinyl sheet is adhesively secured to the panel 24, and is apertured in predetermined locations adjacent its marginal edges to be receivable over the studs 36 as shown. The marginal edge of the vinyl sheet 26 may be slit or punctured to closely fit around the shank of the studs 36 to provide a smooth exposed vinyl surface right up to the stud shanks.

Overlying the vinyl sheet and engaged adjacent its opposite ends on the studs 36 is a retaining means in the form of an elongate strip 42 made of a resilient material such as spring steel or the like. The strip 42 is longitudinally curved, as shown in FIG. 2, and is provided intermediate its opposite ends with a plurality of spaced-apart prongs, barbs or the like 44 engaging the vinyl sheet 26. The prongs project from the convex surface of the strip 42, and may be formed by punching small holes such as indicated at 46 in FIG. from the strip, and displacing the strip material at the marginal edges of the holes out of the plane of the strip to form sharp edges which will bite into the surface of the vinyl sheet 26.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 5, the strip 42 has a longitudinal slot 50 opening through one end thereof, and an elongate aperture 52 adjacent its opposite end. The slot 50 is just wide enough to accommodate the shank 38 of a stud 36 and defines a pair of spaced parallel legs 54 and 56 which engage beneath the head 40 of the stud. Opposite longitudinally extending marginal edges of the aperture 52 are displaced out of the plane of the strip 42 to provide a pair of inclined ramps 58 and 60 extending upwardly away from the concave side of the strip as shown most clearly in FIG. 4. The material of the strip is sufficiently resilient so that the ramp portions 58 and 60 may be forced down over the head 40 of stud 36, the ramp portions thereafter springing back into the position shown in FIG. 4 to maintain a locking engagement of the strip on the stud by engaging against the underside of the stud head 40.

To apply the vinyl top, the studs 36 are welded in predetermined spaced relation to the vehicle roof 22, using a suitable fixture (not shown) to insure proper location and spacing. The vinyl sheet 26 is next adhesively secured to the surface of the roof 26, using the procedure described hereinbefore, or in any other suitable fashion, and slits or apertures are formed adjacent the sheet marginal edges for reception of the studs 36 in a fashion that insures that the vinyl material closely embraces the shank 38 of each stud as shown in FIG. 4. A plurality of the strips 42 (see FIG. 1) are then applied along the marginal edge of the vinyl sheet to retain the sheet.

In applying each strip 42, the slotted end 50 of the strip is slid onto the shank 38 of one of the studs 36, and the apertured portion 52 of the strip is forced down over the head 40 of the opposite stud until the ramp portions 58 and 60 lock under the stud head as shown in FIG. 4. The strip 42 is sufficiently curved so that when the opposite ends thereof are engaged beneath the heads 40 of the studs 36, the prongs or barbs 34 of the strip engage and bite into the exposed surface of the vinyl sheet 26 as shown at 48 in FIG. 3, the strip being tensioned against the sheet by engagement under the stud heads 40. A series of the strips 42 are shown in dotted outline in FIG. 1 applied along the marginal edge of the vinyl sheet 26. Thereafter the hollow molding strip 62 is applied in overlying relation to the marginal edge of the sheet 26 covering the fastener assemblies and the edge of the sheet to hide them from view. The molding strip 62 may be secured in any convenient fashion, such as by a fastener as shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,239,988 or U. S. Pat. No. 3,367,082 for example.

What is claimed is:

l. A fastener assembly comprising a support defining a relatively inflexible panel surface, a sheet of relatively thin flexible material overlying said support in intimate contact with the panel surface, and at least one retaining means coupled to said support for retaining said sheet in a predetermined position with respect to said panel surface, said retaining means comprising an elongate, longitudinally curved strip of resilient material having a plurality of sharp-edged sheet engaging portions displaced from the strip on the convex side thereof facing the panel surface and projecting into the exposed surface of the flexible sheet allowing a marginal edge of said sheet, and a pair of spaced-apart studs each having a shank secured to the support and a head spaced from the support panel surface, said elongate strip having portions engaged beneath the heads of said studs, thereby tensioning the strip against said flexible sheet.

2. A fastener assembly as defined in claim I characterized in that said strip is provided with a longitudinal slot opening through one end thereof and an elongate aperture adjacent the opposite end thereof, said slot and aperture each defining marginal edges bearing against the stud head surface facing said support to retain the strip.

3. A fastener assembly as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said aperture has opposite longitudinally extending marginal edge portions displaced upwardly from the concave face of the strip, said edge portions being resiliently deformable for reception of the stud head therebetween.

4. A fastener assembly as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the distance between the adjacent ends of said slot and aperture is greater than the distance between said studs, and the distance between the outer end of the slot and the inner end of the aperture is less than the distance between said studs.

UNRTED STATES PATENT OFFICE Po-iaso (5 as) CEMTEFICATE OF CGRRECTION Patent No. 3,769,662 Dated November 6, 1973 Inventor) Engelbert A. Meyer I It is certified that ezzrpr appears in the above-identified patent are-em: said Letters Patent; ape hereby corrected as shown below:

In column 4, line 49, change "greater," E0 .--less'- I line 51, change 'le'ss' to -.-greater-'-.

Signed arid 'fs-eeled this 16th day of April (SEAL) Attest EDWARD M.FL1JTCIER,'J8. -c. 'MAR-Si-IALL DANN Attesting' Officer, I- Commissioner of Patents 

1. A fastener assembly comprising a support defining a relatively inflexible panel surface, a sheet of relatively thin flexible material overlying said support in intimate contact with the panel surface, and at least one retaining means coupled to said support for retaining said sheet in a predetermined position with respect to said panel surface, said retaining means comprising an elongate, longitudinally curved strip of resilient material having a plurality of sharp-edged sheet engaging portions displaced from the strip on the convex side thereof facing the panel surface and projecting into the exposed surface of the flexible sheet allowing a marginal edge of said sheet, and a pair of spaced-apart studs each having a shank secured to the support and a head spaced from the support panel surface, said elongate strip having portions engaged beneath the heads of said studs, therEby tensioning the strip against said flexible sheet.
 2. A fastener assembly as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said strip is provided with a longitudinal slot opening through one end thereof and an elongate aperture adjacent the opposite end thereof, said slot and aperture each defining marginal edges bearing against the stud head surface facing said support to retain the strip.
 3. A fastener assembly as defined in claim 2 characterized in that said aperture has opposite longitudinally extending marginal edge portions displaced upwardly from the concave face of the strip, said edge portions being resiliently deformable for reception of the stud head therebetween.
 4. A fastener assembly as defined in claim 2 characterized in that the distance between the adjacent ends of said slot and aperture is greater than the distance between said studs, and the distance between the outer end of the slot and the inner end of the aperture is less than the distance between said studs. 